Salvia plant named &#39;florsaldblue&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Salvia  plant particularly distinguished by its blue flower color, compact growth habit, long flowershoots and increased resistance to fungal disease is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Salvia nemorosa L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Florsaldblue’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia, botanically known as Salvia nemorosa L. and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Florsaldblue’. The new cultivar originated from an uncontrolled cross made in June 2003 in Quedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. The female parent was a proprietary Salvia plant named ‘1386’ (unpatented). The male parent was an unknownSalvia plant.

The new cultivar was first propagated in March 2007 in H.I. Ambacht, The Netherlands, and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over three generations over approximately a two-year period. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for. ‘Florsaldblue’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Quedlinburg Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

-   -   1. Blue flower color;     -   2. Compact growth habit;     -   3. Long flowershoots; and     -   4. High tolerance to fungal diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Salvia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a plant about four months old, grown in a greenhouse in Quedlinburg Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, in the spring of 2008.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Florsaldblue’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Quedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. The plant history was taken on four month old plants which were grown in a greenhouse. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. The plants were pinched two to three weeks after potting. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (1986).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical name.—Salvia nemorosa L.         -   Common name.—Woodland Sage. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Salvia plant named ‘1386’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Unknown Salvia plant. -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Spreading, upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.         -   Width (including flowers).—30.0 cm.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Spring to autumn. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Subcordate.         -   Margin.—Crenulate.         -   Immature.—Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm Width: 1.5 cm.         -   Mature (fully expanded).—Length: 7.0 cm Width: 2.7 cm to 2.9             cm.         -   Color, immature (both surfaces).—RHS 137B (Green) to RHS             137C (Green).         -   Color, mature (both surfaces).—RHS 137A (Green) to RHS 137B             (Green).         -   Venation, immature.—Type: Reticulate Color: RHS 145D             (Yellow-green).         -   Venation, mature.—Type: Reticulate Color: RHS 145D             (Yellow-green).         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Texture: Upper             surface: Pubescent Lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—Lighter than RHS 155A             (Transparent). -   Stem:     -   -   Length (excluding inflorescence).—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—RHS 137D (Green). -   Flower:     -   -   Arrangement.—In verticillasters on spikes.         -   Shape.—Spike.         -   Flowering season.—Spring to summer.         -   Flower buds.—Length: 0.4 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Shape: Round             Color: RHS 99A (Blue) to RHS 99B (Blue).         -   Inflorescence.—Length: 12.0 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Quantity of             inflorescences per plant: 30 to 50.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: 0.2 cm Depth/height: 0.8 cm.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—1 to 2 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—One upper lip and one lower lip with two lobes;             lips fused at the base.         -   Length.—Upper petal: 0.5 cm Lower petal: 0.3 cm.         -   Width (both upper and lower petal).—0.2 cm.         -   Shape (both upper and lower petal).—Labiate.         -   Apex.—Upper petal: Obtuse Lower petal: Rounded.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent.         -   Pubescence.—Slight.         -   Color (when opening).—Upper petal (both surfaces): Blue RHS             93A (Blue) Lower petal (both surfaces): Blue RHS 93B (Blue).         -   Color (fully open).—Upper petal (both surfaces): Blue RHS             93A (Blue) Lower petal (both surfaces): Blue RHS 93B (Blue). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—2 sepals fused to form a tube.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Width.—0.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Apiculate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color (immature, both surfaces).—RHS 137C (Green) with RHS             95A (Purple).         -   Color (mature, mature surfaces).—RHS 137B (Green) with RHS             95A (Purple).         -   Longitudinal stripes color (immature, both surfaces).—RHS             93B (Purple).         -   Longitudinal stripes color (mature, both surfaces).—RHS 93A             (Purple). -   Penduncle:     -   -   Color.—Lighter than RHS 94D (Transparent lilac).         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—45°.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive Organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 2 Filament length: 0.1 cm             Filament color: RHS 157D (Transparent white).         -   Anther.—Anther color: Lighter than RHS 85D (Transparent             lilac) Length: 0.1 cm.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 161D (Greyed-yellow).         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.         -   Pistil.—Pistil length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm Pistil quantity: 1.         -   Stigma.—Color: RHS 157D (Transparent white) Shape: Forked.         -   Style.—Length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm Color: RHS 157D (Transparent             white).         -   Ovary color.—RHS 141D (Green). -   Fruit and seed set: Maximum of 4 oval seeds per flower; often not     germinating. -   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance is typical of the species,     but with a high tolerance for fungal diseases. -   Comparison with parental and commercial cultivars: ‘Florsaldblue’     differs from the female parent ‘1386’ (unpatented) by having a more     compact plant habit with larger flowers than ‘1386’. ‘Florsaldblue’     differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Markus’ (unpatented) by having     a compact plant habit with long flowershoots while ‘Markus’ has a     very compact growth habit and short flowershoots. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant as shown and described herein. 